Living This World

Author: Heather

Iceland: 5 Ways to Rest Your Head

Posted on by Heather

Where you stay in Iceland can really impact your experience of the island.  There are options ranging from luxury hotels to camping and pretty much everywhere in between.  Keep in mind that Iceland is the least densely populated country in Europe. Even though there are a wide range of lodging options, you may not find a specific choice everywhere on the island.  You can have entirely different experiences in Iceland solely based on where you choose to rest your head.

1. Hotels & Guesthouses

Hotels and guesthouses are the more traditional approach to lodging.  Hotels usually have more rooms and are corporately owned. Guesthouses usually have fewer rooms and are locally owned (think bed & breakfast).  With either option, you call, you reserve your room, and you have a warm bed waiting for you. There are many hotels and guesthouses that have great reviews about their cleanliness, friendly staff, and tasty food.

One convenience is that many of the hotels have is an inhouse restaurant.  Keep in mind that this is probably the most expensive way to eat in Iceland.  Eating out is not cheap. The hotels are no exception. Think restaurants with cloth napkins and some ambiance kind of prices, not McDonald’s.

Another detail you are going to want to check is whether or not you have a private bathroom.  Some hotel rooms do have shared bathrooms. If this is an issue for you, be sure to check the details of the room before you book.

On the downside, this is definitely the most expensive option.  Depending on the season, it can be significantly more expensive.  The availability of hotels can be very limited, especially outside of Reykjavík.  They fill up particularly fast in summer, so you need to book a room months in advance to ensure your spot.  Booking in advance will usually get you a better price, as well. As demand increases, so does the price.

If you want to book a hotel or guesthouse, you may want to try contacting the hotel directly.  You can also try websites like Hotel.is, which is an Iceland-specific hotel booking site, or more general hotel booking sites like Booking.com or Agoda.com.

2. AirBNB

Not going to lie, this is my current favorite travel option and the route my husband and I chose for our vacation to Iceland.  We had a very pleasant experience with caring hosts that would check in (email or phone) to make sure you made it and were able to access the property.  Every place we stayed in was clean and very private, which is what we look for in lodging.

AirBNB is usually less expensive than booking a hotel room.  Of course, if you look at booking a large house, it will probably be more expensive than a standard hotel room (though not always).  It is still not the least expensive way to go, but it will save you quite a bit from a standard hotel. You also don’t have a daily maid service, so there is a trade-off.

If you thrive on being social, this may not be your favorite option.  Many of the AirBNBs can be very isolated. If you’re wanting an interactive experience with other travelers, this wouldn’t be the ideal choice.  If you like to retreat to a quiet getaway in the evening, this could be perfect for you.

3. Hostels

If you’re wanting to drastically cut costs while still sleeping in a building and a more social travel experience, try a hostel.  The dorm rooms of a hostel are significantly less expensive than a hotel or AirBNB. You will be bunking with other travelers and sharing a bathroom.  This is definitely the most social lodging option. It can be a great way to exchange stories, travel ideas and tips.

Private rooms are often available, as well.  You do pay for the privacy, though. Private rooms are usually much more comparable in cost to a hotel or AirBNB.  If you have a larger family or group, some hostels have larger private rooms that house up to 6 people for less than reserving 2 hotel rooms.  

If you’re wanting to try a hostel, start by checking HostelBookers.com or HostelWorld.com.

4. RV Camping

What could be more convenient than taking your room with you?  You wouldn’t have to pack up every time you changed locations, you’d be able to cook your own food (if it has a kitchen) saving a lot of money on food, and you be having an out of the box experience!  Sounds great, right?

If you were already planning on renting a car, this actually does save you some money.  There are some rules to this way of travel, though. You can’t just pull to the side of the road and call it a night.  In fact, that is against the law in many places. Using a campsite is your best bet. They cannot be booked in advance and are first come, first serve.  Usually, this isn’t a problem. It is good to keep in mind, though.

If you are wanting to visit the highlands, this is not the right choice.  RVs are not suited for the highland roads and not allowed. If you’re not planning on visiting the highlands, this may be the perfect choice to have a unique experience in a unique landscape.  You’ll get the experience of camping while still being shielded from the elements.

To book an RV, you could try a booking site like Extreme Iceland, which we used to book some of our tours, or contact the businesses directly.  Some well-known RV rental businesses include Camper Iceland, Campervan Iceland, Kuki Campers, Motorhome Iceland, or Snail Motorhome Rental. You may also want to look into a camping card.  It gives you access to around 40 campsites.

5. Tent Camping

Another out of the box way to see Iceland is in a tent.  It is the least expensive and some nights even free, depending on where you stop.  Since Iceland does not have any dangerous wildlife, you don’t even have to worry about a bear or other predator walking into your campsite.

If you want to camp in Iceland, you need to be tough.  The weather is unpredictable and at times unforgiving. You may face harsh winds, cold temperatures, and surprise storms.  I’d recommend camping in the summer months. This is especially true for the highlands, which may not be accessible at other times of the year due to snow.  Summer weather is more mild and predictable than spring or fall. If you’re crazy enough, you could even try the winter. There will only be a couple of hours of daylight, though.  

Make sure your equipment is rated for the conditions.  Since campfires are completely illegal, you won’t be able to warm yourself by the fire at night.  Even if it was legal, in most places you couldn’t find firewood if you tried.  

You may want to bring a sleep mask along as well.  In the summer, you’ll be enjoying the midnight sun and it will never get fully dark.  This isn’t an issue in a building or even an RV. You can just close the curtains. It may be an issue in a tent if you’re a light sleeper.

Research where camping is permitted.  Remember, parking along the roadside is illegal in many areas.  You also cannot camp on private land without the owner’s permission.  Be sure to research your route so you know where the campsites are located and where wild camping is permitted.

If you don’t want to bring your own camping gear, this self-drive tour package has all your gear included.  For information on places to camp, try these articles by Inspired by Iceland and UST.is.  Also, look into a camping card.  It gives you access to around 40 campsites.

Hopefully that gives you a starting point for planning your stay in Iceland.  Please comment below if you have any insights or ideas to share. I’d love to hear from you!

6 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Trip

Posted on by Heather

Let’s face it.  Not all trips are created equal.  There are those who seem to always have wonderful vacations no matter where they go and others that seem underwhelmed by almost anything.  So how do you get the most enjoyment out of a vacation?

1.    Know Before You Go

Do a little research about the places you plan to visit.  We live in the information age. The information is there, so use it!  Understanding the nature, cultures, and even a brief history of the people and places that you are visiting can elevate your experience to the next level.  

  • Snorkeling around a sunken ship is cool, but it’s even more amazing if you also know that it is a German ship from WWII that was sunk by its own crew to avoid turning it over to Dutch marines.  
  • The piles of rocks in Iceland are an interesting addition to the landscape, but it’s even more interesting when you realize you’re looking at trail markers for an old Viking route that have been standing for a 1000 years.  
  • Being able to literally walk inside of a giant redwood is neat, but it’s even more so when you know that it’s hollow because it has survived forest fires.  The only living part of the trunk is just below the bark, which has a very high water content and is difficult to ignite. So even when a fire burns up their inner core, they’re still very much alive and can live to be not just hundreds, but thousands of years old.

Little details like these can make your experience go from good to fascinating.  It allows you to appreciate what you are seeing and experiencing and why it’s significant.  Knowledge is power, my friends.

2.    Be Prepared

While you are investigating the places you plan to travel, and the transportation you’ll be using to get there, take note of possible problems that may arise.  

  • Does the weather change frequently? Plan to dress in layers.
  • What time of the year will you be there? Pack clothes that are appropriate.
  • Is the water safe to drink? Or do you need to plan on bottled water while you’re there?
  • Do they use a different currency? Make sure you have some with you and know how and where to get more.
  • Does your credit card charge a foreign transaction fee? Maybe you’ll want to get a different one.
  • What happens if your checked bag gets misplaced? Keep essentials in your carry-on and a change of clothes. (Especially underwear, please!)
  • Do they have reliable public transit? Or is it better to rent a car?
  • If you’re driving, did you make sure your spare tire is in good shape? Do you have water in case you have to wait for a tow truck?
  • Do you have a first aid kit? Or at the very least, a band-aid? Even something as minor as a blister can ruin a hike or a stroll around a city.

Trying to solve problems before they actually happen can make them seem less severe when they actually do happen.  Don’t go crazy. You can’t plan for everything. Just make sure you’re likely to survive comfortably should things go awry.

3.    Locals Are Not Your Servants

Even though they are likely providing a service to you, the locals are not your servants.  Don’t treat them as anything less than a friend helping you out. These are people. This is their home.  Show them respect and kindness and you will get it in return. The best inside tips and experiences I’ve had on a trip are directly related to treating my waitresses, bus boys, taxi drivers, forest rangers, tour guides, and other locals with respect and like they are human beings.  Be the sunshine in their day and they’ll likely be the guiding light in yours.

4.    Know Local Customs and Laws

Yes, there really are places that it’s considered an insult to tip or illegal to make a right turn on a red light (what?!).  Try to get an idea of the differences between your home and the place you are visiting. In general, it’s pretty easy to not get into trouble.  Just act like a decent human being. However, if you are traveling internationally in a variety of diverse cultures (think eastern vs. western cultures), you may accidentally cause problems.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions. When you rent a car, ask if they know of any differences in driving laws that you need to be aware of. When checking into a hotel, ask about tipping customs.  Most people are pretty good about helpfully correcting minor faux pas if they know you’re a tourist, but do your best to avoid it. It will save you some embarrassment and possible fines.

5.    Don’t Be THAT Tourist

Look, tourists already fight a bad rap.  You know you’ve seen them. We’ve all rolled our eyes at them, been shocked by them, been glad we’re not with them, etc.  It isn’t too difficult to avoid being THAT tourist.

  • Don’t be the tourist that is crossing barricades to get that “perfect selfie picture” with no regard to the vegetation they’re trampling or danger they’re causing.  
  • Don’t be the loud and obnoxious tourist that seems to lack volume control or basic manners.  
  • Don’t be the tourist that gets too drunk and makes a fool of themselves or damages property.  
  • Don’t be the tourist with the “me first” attitude because they “paid a lot of money for this vacation.”  (We all did, thanks.)
  • Don’t be the tourist that openly mocks the local culture or treats the locals badly.  
  • Don’t be the tourist making a huge scene over a small issue in hopes of getting compensation.  

It really should be common sense.  Be respectful. Be responsible. Pay attention to what’s around you.  Basically, don’t be a jerk. It’s pretty easy.

6.    Just Roll With It

Things will not go as planned.  They may go mostly as planned, but something will not go as planned.  Just roll with it. Don’t make it a big deal. It’s not a reason to fight or get angry.  Just roll with it and try to see it as a travel story that you’ll get to laugh about later. Some of my favorite trip memories are when things didn’t go as planned.  Like when our daughter decided to lock the doors of the truck with her and the keys inside…while it was running…during a heavy rainstorm…in the mountains. She was a toddler and thought it was hilarious to see us try to figure out a way to unlock the truck as we got more and more drenched.  What’s even better is she finally hit the unlock button when her dad told her “Don’t push that button!” I love that memory.

Your traveling experience is what you make it.  The outcome of your trip will largely depend on you.  If you’ve done your research, prepared for possible mishaps, are respectful and considerate, and just relax a bit, then I promise your trip will be all the better for it.

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Aruba: The Happy Island

Posted on by Heather

With turkey day and jingling bells just around the corner and fall bestowing its icy chill, a visit to the warm, tropical Caribbean seemed to be just what the doctor ordered. Mother-daughter trip to the rescue!  My mom and I haven’t had a vacation like this since I was married, which we’ll just say has been more than a few years. The island was beautiful and offered a much needed, relaxing break from reality.

Aruba is a small, tropical island in the Caribbean just north of Venezuela.  It is warm and humid, which is great for the skin and lungs, but a bit of a shock to the senses for someone coming from a climate with cold, dry air that more closely resembles Siberia than the tropics.  Luckily, I adapted quickly and enjoyed a healthy complexion and happy breathing for the week.

The beaches in Aruba are stunningly beautiful.  The fine white sand turns the deep blue Caribbean waters into a bright turquoise ring with crystal clear waters that do nothing to hide the sea floor.  The sun is hot and the water is just cool enough to take the edge off of the heat. The shores on the west are sandy, calm, and inviting. The shores of the east threaten harsh waves and rocky shores, reminding you that the ocean is not always kind.  

All of Aruba’s best beaches are along the western shores.  There are a few on the eastern shore, but they come with a lot of wind and harsh waves.  It’s not a place for swimming, with one notable exception that I’ll leave for later. The western shores have calm water and gently sloping sands making it perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving.  Not surprisingly, all of the resorts are along the western shores, many of which are right on the beach. The east is open spaces, dirt roads, and natural vegetation.

“Hello family!”  That’s how we’d start the day when we’d visit our new friend, Jeff, for a delicious (and very reasonably priced) breakfast at the Mimosa restaurant near Palm Beach.  The people in Aruba have that welcoming hospitality thing down. They are very gracious hosts. We even ran into Jeff around the beach and were greeted with a big smile and a continuation of the previous conversation we had with him.  The resort staff and tour guides did not disappoint us, either. They all went out of their way to make us feel welcome. It was like visiting loving family that wanted nothing more than to make us feel at home.

One of our other favorite spots to eat was at the Bugaloe on Palm Beach.  The Bugaloe is a bar & grill restaurant on a pier with outdoor dining, music (live music on the weekend) and an overall fun, relaxed atmosphere.  If you visit, you have to try the Grouper Ceviche or the Steak & Cheese Wraps. You won’t be disappointed. The Bugaloe is not the only restaurant on a pier along the beaches, but it was definitely our favorite.  It even had a little gelato place, called Gelatissimo if you want a sweet treat to cool you off.

There are a number of tours and cruises that you can take in Aruba, both in the ocean or on land.  Ocean tours include snorkeling, scuba diving, Snuba, helmet walks, dinner cruises, deep sea fishing, parasailing, windsurfing, kayaking, water-skiing, jet-skiing, and more. The off-road tours include horse-back riding, jeep safaris, atv/utv tours, and range rover tours.  We opted for a morning snorkeling tour and all-day, coast-to-coast land tour.

I have been snorkeling before, once on the Great Barrier Reef, and a few times in Hawaii.  This was a different experience than either of those areas. The first difference was the crew on the catamaran.  They were such an energetic and welcoming crew that you felt like you were at a friend’s party rather than on a tour.  It had an open bar with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, upbeat dance-worthy music, and crew members focused only on making sure you were having a great time.  On top of that, the snorkeling was a completely different environment than I had been in and even included a shipwreck.

The shipwreck was the German ship Antilla that was sunk by its crew during WWII to avoid turning it over to Dutch marines.  It was the deepest area that we explored. I actually have a fear of open water and I have to fight that fear being triggered when I’m in the ocean.  I do it anyway, hoping one day I’m over that fear. The shipwreck definitely was pushing my limits, but it was so awesome to explore that my tension soon faded into awe of the incredible scene that was beneath me.  The corals and tube sponges grew on every angle, reclaiming the ship to nature. Schools of fish swam all around, searching for food as they darted in and out of the openings and holes in the timber. It was mesmerizing.

The next two stops were near the shore at Boca Catalina and Arashi beach areas.  There was a wider variety of brightly colored fish here, or at least you noticed the colors more because they are closer to the surface and the sunlight illuminates their brilliant hues.  We found a tunnel-like gap between some of the shore’s lava boulders and, fortunately, the waters were calm enough for us to swim through. If you go snorkeling, these are the areas you should look for.  There were so many fish in so many varieties that I didn’t see anywhere else on the trip. We even saw some huge rainbow parrot fish on the other side of the tunnel. We found one brain coral that was by far the biggest I’ve ever seen.  It was easily 5 ft in diameter and almost as tall. There were plenty of fish swimming all around. At one point, we had stopped to watch a fish digging in the sand when, all of a sudden, we were surrounded by a school of small fish. They were so close we couldn’t move without kicking them.  A few even nibbled at my mom’s fingers. It was great.

The lunch on this tour was fantastic.  I don’t think we had a bad meal the entire time we were on the island.  After lunch we enjoyed a boat ride back to the pier. The scenery is just amazing.  If you’ve never been to the Caribbean, you need to go. It’s just as beautiful as you see in the movies, but just like TV can’t compare with the big screen, movies can’t compare with experiencing it for yourself.

Our coast-to-coast tour was a bit of a contrast to the snorkeling tour.  We lovingly nick-named it the Indiana Jones tour because it reminded us of the Disneyland ride.  These tours let you explore the eastern side of the island, which is definitely the road less traveled.  It’s a dusty, dirt-road adventure that takes you to see some of the sites and natural wonders of the island.

We began on the north side of the island at the California Lighthouse.  We then traveled down the eastern shore along the rocky cliffs with strong, large waves crashing against them creating huge fans of ocean spray.  Most of the ocean is a deep blue with the occasional sandy area bringing out the familiar turquoise color that lines the western shores. The vegetation is not the palm tree-lined beaches that you see on the postcards.  The island is naturally a very dry environment and the native plants are tall cacti and thorny brushes. We drove by the ruins of an old mill and down to the natural bridge ruins. The large natural bridge collapsed in 2005 due to erosion from the constant beating of the waves.  There’s a smaller bridge next to these ruins that is still intact. One of our guides told us that they called the fallen bridge the “mother bridge” and asked us what we thought they called the smaller one. Son of a bridge. Apparently dad jokes are universal!

We ate lunch at Du Palm, one of the two private islands in Aruba.  They have a young flock of flamingos that were recently brought to the island, as well as many lizards and crabs wandering about.  There are many different types of birds flying and chirping all around, as well. The food again did not disappoint, and we soon were off again to our next destination.

The next stop was the Natural Pool, the one place on the east coast that you can swim safely.  To get there, we had to take a long drive through their national park on a long, bumpy dirt road that solidified the Indiana Jones nickname.  The road took us up to a summit that gave you a 360-degree view of the island. You could see the entire island. North shore, south shore, east and west were all visible.  It was stunning. We arrived at the Natural Pool in one piece. The Natural Pool is a little sheltered area surrounded by lava rock. The rocks shield it from the currents and crashing waves, which still send spray up and over the wall.  The pool is full of life. The rocks surrounding it look like they are moving because of the crabs walking all over them. When you look in the water with a snorkel, you get the surprise of fish swimming all around you. The water here is not as crystal clear as on the western shores because it is constantly being churned up.  However, there is a high concentration of colorful fish to see.

Our tour ended at the south end of the island at Baby Beach.  This is another sheltered swimming area that is ideal if you have small children.  It’s calm and even at 20+ feet out, the water was still waist-deep. There is a deeper area by the rocks that is a good snorkeling spot, but most of the man-made lagoon is shallow and lined with fine, white sand.

If you’re looking for a place to relax on the beach, scuba dive or snorkel around shipwrecks and sunken planes, or enjoy a resort-style vacation with plenty of high-end shopping, Aruba is a great choice.  It is designed to cater to tourists and provide them with all the entertainment their little hearts desire. If you are looking to explore a unique, remote culture, this is not your area. This Dutch island is like an extension of the United States as far as the culture goes.  The pre-Columbian culture and native language are now lost. English is now widely spoken, as well as Dutch. They do still have their own language, Papiamento, which is mostly a mixture of Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, and English. The US dollar is sometimes accepted over their native currency, the Aruban florin, as I found out when I tried to get some coins from our resort and was informed they only use the US dollar and I’d have to try some of the shops.  Hotel names alone were all too familiar, as there were many that were owned by US companies. This isn’t necessarily a negative. It can actually be a way to begin traveling abroad without experiencing a complete culture shock or having to learn a foreign language. The island also provides a very desirable relaxing getaway that may be just what you need.

One other consideration is that Aruba is not a cheap destination.  Airfare and lodging can be pretty pricey. You can still find deals that make it more affordable, but they are getting harder to come by.  We were lucky with our resort. It was under renovation, so we were able to get an incredible deal and it ended up not being an inconvenience to us at all.  In a couple of months, however, the price at that resort will more than triple. Despite the price tag, I still think it’s worth a visit. I will be finding a way to get back there for a scuba diving trip.

How do you escape the cold?

Utah Hikes: Primrose Overlook

Posted on by Heather

One of the benefits of where I live is that I have mountains all around me.  There are plenty of places to go hiking without having to drive for hours to get there.  This last weekend I got to go hiking with my favorite people up to a place called Primrose Overlook in American Fork Canyon. On a clear day, you can see from the high Uinta Mountains to Provo Canyon, including Deer Creek and Sundance Ski Resort. It’s a beautiful view and worth your efforts.

We’ve hiked this area in both summer and fall. If there is enough snow, it can be accessible in the winter and spring by snowmobile, however, you may want to check with the Forest Service to see what the conditions are. The road itself is closed in winter and spring. In summer, there are quite a few bugs, so wear bug spray if you don’t want bites. In fall, it can get chilly, but you don’t deal with the bugs. This area can get pretty busy on a weekend, so go early. Weekdays are much quieter.

  • Changing Leaves
  • Primrose Overlook
  • Horse Flat Trail
  • Horse Flat Trail
  • Horse Flat Trail
  • A black and orange furry caterpillar of a tiger moth.
    Tiger Moth Caterpillar

Trailhead: Alpine Summit parking area
Directions: Going counter-clockwise around the loop, follow the Horse Flat Trail (it’s marked, but stay left at forks) until you reach the 3rd meadow by Horse Spring. This meadow will have a fork in the trail. Take the right fork. This will take you up one of the steepest parts of the trail and out to the overlook. The left fork takes you past Horse Spring, which is a metal trough with water flowing into it through a pipe. If you get here, you missed the trail to the overlook. You will, however, walk back this way to finish the loop. Follow this trail down to Lame Horse Trail and turn left. This will take you back to the parking area. (See map below)
Distance: 3.6 miles
Elevation Gain: about 985 feet
Difficulty: Moderate. Though mostly easy going and fairly flat, there are some pretty steep parts. Children should be fine, but you may need to let them take some breaks on the steep parts.

Why Iceland?

Posted on by Heather

Why Iceland?  That’s the question I was asked most often when people found out we were planning this trip.  Why Iceland? For me, I wanted to see the Northern Lights and it is arguably the best place to see them.  While that alone is reason enough to get me to hop on a plane, the more I searched, the more I wanted to visit.

Iceland is a land of contrast and wide-open spaces.  I’m a wide-open spaces kind of person. I like the beauty of nature and the cultural charm of small towns that seems to get lost as they grow into big cities.  Iceland’s biggest city is Reykjavík, and it’s a charming town compared to the big cities in the USA. But even if you’re more the city type, you may still want to consider a visit to Iceland.  You are sure to see sites that you can’t find anywhere else.

The Land of Fire and Ice

It may not surprise you that there is ice in Iceland.  What may surprise you is that there are also many volcanoes, geothermal pools, and other geothermal activity all over the island, some of which even exist underneath the glaciers!  It truly is the land of fire and ice.

While there are several glaciers on the island, one of the most beautiful places to view these massive frozen reservoirs is Breiðamerkurjökull where it feeds into Jökulsárlón, Iceland’s most famous glacial lagoon.  Here you can view large chunks of ice drifting slowly through the glacier-blue waters toward the ocean or tour an ice cave and marvel at its crystal-like, aquamarine walls. If you look down at your feet, you’ll notice that you’re standing on black sand.  That is what’s left of lava flows from the volcanoes lying beneath the ice caps.

Photo of Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, Iceland.
Jökulsárlón

The glacial lagoon isn’t the only place you’ll find black sand.  In fact, one of the best places to see it is the black beaches near Vík, just outside of the Golden Circle.  You’ll also have a chance to admire the basalt columns that formed there as well.

As water flows from the island’s glacial reservoirs, it creates streams and rivers that cascade down the many stone cliffs in breath-taking waterfalls.  These aren’t little waterfalls, either. Some are enormous, such as Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe, or Gullfoss, one of the most iconic and photographed in Iceland.  It seems like there is a waterfall around every corner, and sometimes more than one!

Besides creating pretty waterfalls, Iceland’s water is known for being the cleanest, purest water in the world.  The melting glacier water travels for decades through the porous lava rock, which acts as a perfect natural water filter.  If you want to taste the best water in the world, don’t buy it in a bottle. Icelanders will tell you that buying bottled water in Iceland is foolish.  Just get it from the tap. Better yet, get it out of one of their many, many streams. All of Iceland’s water is safe to drink.

On the days when the weather can’t decide between rain showers and sunshine, keep an eye out for a rainbow when the sun decides to peek out from behind the clouds.  The abundance of water, whether it be from rain or mist from waterfalls, can create some of the most vibrant rainbows you have ever seen. Some of the brightest rainbows I have ever seen were in the Western Fjords.  You’ll also see them appear in the mist rising up from the waterfalls, giving them an almost mythical flair that will make your photos all the more beautiful.

Photo of Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall), Iceland.
Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall)

The People

If you want to make an Icelander smile, try to speak Icelandic.  I’m not sure if the smile is because they’re proud of you for the attempt, or because they think it’s hilarious to hear you try (and most likely fail miserably) to speak their language.  If it’s the latter, they probably wouldn’t tell you anyway because Icelanders are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. They are gracious hosts and, lucky for me, they also speak English.  This is a tremendous asset to tourists. However, I do hope they never give up speaking their native language, it is a beautiful remnant of their proud Viking heritage.

Superstition is huge in Iceland.  They have many stories about elves, trolls, and ghosts.  While many Icelanders no longer believe in them, enough do that they will go out of their way when building a road just to leave an elf hill undisturbed.  While looking for a home to buy, it’s also not surprising if the person selling the home happens to mention that it has a ghost. Don’t worry about seeing any trolls, at least not during the day.  They can’t be out in the daylight or they’ll turn to stone like Reynisdrangar, found off-shore near Vík.

Until recently, as in 1960s recently, the people of Iceland lived in turf houses.  You can still see the remains of some of these homes as you travel the Ring Road around the island.  Now, more modern, well-kept homes dot the landscape, sitting atop the moss-covered countryside.  Those living outside of the main city are usually raising sheep, Icelandic horses, or occasionally cattle (but mostly sheep).  Many are also fishermen, with cod, and the oil made from it, being a staple. Did I mention there are sheep?

Overall, Icelanders are a happy-go-lucky people that are very friendly and willing to help you along your journey.  I find this amazing considering that there are many more tourists visiting the island every year than actual residents.  And yet, they still greet you with a warm smile and are more than happy to share their home with you. If you do visit, please give them the same courtesy and treat them and their home with kindness and respect.  And please, stay off of the moss!

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Welcome to Living This World!

Posted on by Heather

Hi! My name is Heather. For as long as I can remember, I have always loved to travel and experience new things.  I had the opportunity to travel to Australia as a student ambassador for 3 weeks when I was 18.  This was my first experience with another culture and it fueled my love for adventure.  I started looking into studying abroad after my first year of college and was planning on going back to Australia the following year when I ran into my husband.  My husband shares my desire to travel. He lived in Zimbabwe for a year before we started dating which had made that desire stronger. Together the two of us wanted nothing more than to travel this world experiencing all it has to offer.

Life never goes as planned.  We were newly weds, poor college students, and then starting brand new careers.  Our family was also growing with the birth of our first baby girl. We were proud new parents, completely exhausted, financially tight, but still determined that we would travel the world…someday.

At about age 30 and with another beautiful baby girl in our lives, we realized that we hadn’t been able to live any of our big travel dreams.  We still had small adventures, but nothing like we had dreamed of. While we felt incredibly blessed with our little family, we also felt stuck, trapped in our day-to-day life just watching time fly by.  

It was a horrible feeling.  It was easy to look online at social media or blogs and find people living out their epic adventures exploring Asia, backpacking through Europe, or whatever place they had chosen.  People were just leaving their lives behind and exploring the world, sometimes for years. It looked amazing, but with our kids and careers there was no way we could do that. How could anyone do that?

It was a horrible feeling.  It was easy to look online at social media or blogs and find people living out their epic adventures exploring Asia, backpacking through Europe, or whatever place they had chosen.  People were just leaving their lives behind and exploring the world, sometimes for years. It looked amazing, but with our kids and careers there was no way we could do that. How could anyone do that?  

They can do it because most of them are 20-somethings with no set career, no spouse, no kids, and very little responsibility.  More power to them! But this doesn’t always work for the 30+ or 40+ person with a spouse, kids, and a 401K tied to a career that they have worked hard on for the last decade or more.  I get it. I get it because that’s where my husband and I lived.

Things needed to change and we decided that we were going to change it.  We planned a road trip that summer to Yellowstone and Glacier National Park.  We packed up our preschooler and our toddler and we just went. It was a whirlwind of a trip and we all had an amazing time.  It was just one week. It wasn’t a year, but one week. That week changed everything. We realized that rather than waiting for the perfect someday to come along, we could start living now.  We made a deal right then and there that we would go on at least one big trip every year, one small trip every quarter, and one really big trip, just the two of us, every 5th anniversary.

Now it’s your turn.  You can’t experience EVERYTHING this world has to offer, but I believe you can experience ANYTHING this world has to offer.  It just has to be your priority. You can still have great experiences and keep your career, family, and home. You can do it, but you actually have to go out and do it.  “Someday” means never. If you are waiting until that perfect someday arrives, you are going to grow old and full of regrets about the things you could have done but never did. Time is limited.  You can’t buy more. Once it’s gone, it is just gone.

So let’s do something about it!  What have you always wanted to do?  Where have you always wanted to go? Pick something and start figuring out how to make it happen.  Then make it happen! It really is that simple. Do it and then do it again. Do it and you will get to the end of your life content with how you lived.  No regrets. That’s the goal.

This website is here to help you on your life’s adventure.  Here I will share tips I have learned and ideas I’ve gathered as I set out on my own life’s adventure.  I hope that by sharing these experiences, you will be inspired to set out and live your life. Let’s get out there and make some memories!  Let’s get out and start Living This World!